Transportable crane or derrick

ABSTRACT

A transportable crane or derrick comprising a mast or column pivotally mounted on the platform of a vehicle so as to be capable of being tilted with respect to the platform. The mast includes a main jib pivotally mounted at the head of the mast to pivot in the tilting plane of the mast. On the opposite side of the mast from the main jib there is mounted a sheave providing guide means for a cable having a load-carrying hook mounted thereon.

United States Patent Hans Liehherr 795 Biberach ander Riss,Mernmingerstrasse;

Franz Josef Fenzl, 795 Biberach ander Riss, Schlierenbachstrasse 57;Peter Paul Weisser, 795 Biberach ander Riss. Dittmarstrasse 33, Munich,Germany 71 l ,265

Mar. 7, 1968 Mar. 30, 1971 Mar. 1 1, 1967 Germany L55,989

Inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented Priority TRAN SPORTABLE CRANE ORDERRICK 3 Claims, 23 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 212/144, 212/46, 212/59, 212/49, 212/55 Int. Cl B66c 23/62 Fieldof Search... 212/46, 46

(A & B), 55,58, 59,49, 144;52/115, 116, 118

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1948 Huston 6/1962 Potter9/1964 Mork 8/1965 Brekelbaum FOREIGN PATENTS 7/1962 U.S.S.R. 12/1963France Primary Examiner1-1arvey C. Hornsby Attorney-Stevens, Davis,Miller and Mosher ABSTRACT: A transportable crane or derrick comprisinga mast or column pivotally mounted on the platform of a vehicle so as tobe capable of being tilted with respect to the platform. The mastincludes a main jib pivotally mounted at the head of the mast to pivotin the tilting plane of the mast. On the opposite side of the mast fromthe main jib there is mounted a sheave providing guide means for a cablehaving a load-carrying hook mounted thereon.

Patented March 30,1971 3,572,517

9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented March 30,1971 v 3,572,517

9 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

FIG. 4

IN vslvrbxs ll/HVS LIEBHEKRI' FRANZ J1 FE vz 1.

PETER P- WEIJJER PTI'DRNE/5 Patented March 30, 1971 3,572,517

9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVE/VTPRS HANS 1.155 hERR FR/WZ T.- FE/VZL, P T R P.WELSSEK Patented March 30, 1971 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 M225 u SZ WM M mmdm w IMM .W. m fin C; 37

FIG.

TRANSPGRTABLE CRANE Gill DERRICK The present invention relates to atransportable crane or derrick comprising a crane mast or column mountedon the piatform of a vehicle and capable of being tilted with respect tothe platform, the mast carrying a main jib which pivots with respect tothe mast.

it is well known to construct cranes in such a manner that, for travel,the mast or column together with the jib folded against it may be swungdown to a horizontal position on the platform of the vehicle. At abuilding site or other point of use, the crane mast is raised into itsupright operative position perpendicular to the platform. Cranes of thiskind are distinguished by their high degree of mobility across countryand the easy erection of the mast at the point of use. Hitherto suchtransportable cranes have, however, only been employed as single purposeequipment insofar as at the point of use they are first erected into anoperative position in which, as stated, the mast is upright and the jibextends from it at an angle.

This deficiency of the above-mentioned known crane is overcome,according to the present invention, by such a disposition of the mainjib with respect to the mast, preferably at the head of the latter, thatthe jib can be luffed in the plane of tilting of the mast. Furthermore,the deficiency is overcome by the provision on the mast, at that sideopposite the main jib and preferably again at its head, of a sheaveproviding means for guiding a cable to a load-carrying hook. The mast isenabled, on the one hand, to be brought into such an operative positionthat it forms a rotary tower crane on the platform of the vehicle, withthe jib swung out, and, on the other hand, by appropriately incliningthe mast with respect to the abovementioned platform and by folding thejib down against it, one provides a tilting mast or derrick suitable forcarrying loads and having at its free end a sheave providing means forguiding a cable to a load-carrying hook. The mast is capable of beingtilted in two opposite directions, in its plane of inclination, wherebythe crane can be used in two different ways without requiring additionaloperating means.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mast or column of thecrane is tiltably mounted on a rotating platform on the chassis of thevehicle. The crane means can have a carrier for the counterweightcomprising parallel barlike supports disposed slidably and arranged onthe platform symmetrically with respect to a central line passingthrough the mast attachment point and the center of the platform. Inaddition to being guided on rails on the rotary platform, thiscounterweight is also adjustable on it from mutually opposed sides according to whether the crane is to be employed as a rotary tower craneor as a tilting mast derrick.

If, according to a further feature of the invention, a counterjib isprovided which is pivotally mounted on the opposite side of the mastfrom the main jib and if it carriers at its free end a cable-guidingsheave, this counterjib can be employed as a short auxiliary jib whenthe equipment is acting as a derrick with the mast inclined. In thisembodiment the lifting of the load can be achieved either by means ofthe load-carrying hook alone, which is movable at the free end of theshort auxiliary jib, or it can be achieved both by the use of thisload-carrying hook and at the same time additionally by raising thealready-mentioned load-carrying hook which is movable by means of thesheave that is mounted directly on the mast. The common movement of theload by means of both hooks is particularly useful when the loads to belifted are to be shifted in a predetermined direction, for example atbuilding sites.

According to a further feature of the invention it is possible to use amast made up to telescopicsections arranged so that the sections of themast can be extended by means of a tension cable, and so that theextension increases with an increasing angle of inclination of the mastwith respect to the platform of the vehicle. In this arrangement, oneend of the tension cable is preferably secured to the rotary platform.

According to a still further feature of the invention, in theabove-mentioned crane, the telescopic sections of the mast are broughtinto their operative positions by the use of a fluid pressure ram. Themain jib, which lies against the telescoped mast in the travelingposition, is arranged to act as a tie rod which can be locked to theindividual sections of the mast in turn. In this way the necessity forthe provision of a special tie rod for this purpose is eliminated.

It has been found to be particularly advantageous for the tip of the jibto be connected by a cable of constant length to a counterjib pivoted tothe mast of the crane on the opposite side. This counterjib is connectedin turn to the load carrying hook by means of a further cable ofconstant length fed over a direction-reversing sheave rotatably mountedon the platform. By means of this construction, the mast is caused toextend to its maximum height in every case while the desired inclinationof the jib is obtained by appropriate adjustment of the loadcarryinghook. The extending movement of the mast and the pivotal movement of thejib are mutually independent in this case. Since the load-carrying hookis arranged on the opposite side of the mast from the jib and in themanner of operation in point the equipment is not being used'as a rotarytower crane, the winching arrangements provided can be employed toadjust the position of the jib.

According to a further preferred feature of the invention the movabletelescoping portion can be slid into the traveling position, by means ofthe guide portion pivoted to the platform, to an extent beyond the pivotpoint of the guide portion. This makes it possible to employ, in thetraveling position, the otherwise wasted-space between the pivot pointof the guide portion and the front or rear end of the vehicle for themast of the crane so that its individual sections can be made relativelylong without increasing the overall length of the vehicle. At the sametime a favorable weight distribution is obtained between the axles ofthe vehicle.

Preferably a number of hydraulic cylinders, arranged either side by sideor superimposed, are used for the telescoping of the mast. Such anarrangement results in a relatively short length for a hydrauliccylinder in conjunction with a large overall stroke.

The means for accomplishing the foregoing objects and other advantages,which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, are set forth in thefollowing specification and claims, and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings dealing with several embodiments of the presentinvention. Reference is made now to the drawings in which:

PEG. 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment of the inventivetransportable crane in which a three-section mast is employed as asimple derrick so that the vehicle operates as a jib crane;

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section through the carrier for thecounterweight, in its retracted condition;

FIG. 3 shows the carrier of FIG. 2 in a side elevation and in itsextended condition;

FIG. 4 shows the carrier of FIGS. 2 and 3 in plan view and in itsextended condition;

FIG. 5 shows the mast of FIG. 1 being used as a derrick mast, i.e., thevehicle of the invention operating as a simple jib crane, a specialarrangement being provided for automatic ally extending the mast with anincreasing angle of tilt;

FIG. 6 shows the crane according to FIG. I employed as a rotary towercrane, the overall length of the mast or tower being varied to luff thejib;

FIG. 7 shows the vehicle of FIG. llin its position ready for erectionand directly before erection of the mast;

FIGS. 3 to Ill shows the steps of extension of the individual sectionsof the mast with the main jib acting as a tie rod;

FIG. ll shows a further embodiment of the inventive transportable cranein its travelling position, the mast being made up to two sections;

FIG. 12 shows the vehicle of FIG. ll with the mast half extended;

FIG. 13 shows the vehicle of FIG. ll with the mast half extended andpartially erected;

FIG. M shows the vehicle of FIG. 11 with the mast fully extended andpartially erected and thus in the operative position for acting as a jibcrane;

FIG. 15 shows, in plan view, the position of the hydraulic cylinder forthe travelling condition of the vehicle of FIG. 11;

FIG. 16 shows the position of the cylinder as in FIG. 15 butdiagrammatically (it is not a side elevation);

FIG. 17 shows, in plan view, the position of the cylinder for thehalf-extended position of the mast shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 18 shows diagrammatically the position of the cylinder as in FIG.17;

FIG. 19 is a section through the cylinder assembly taken along the lineIX in FIG. 17;

FIG. 20 is a section taken along the line X in FIG. 17;

FIG. 21 shows, in plan view, the position of the cylinder for the fullyextended position of the mast shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 22 shows, a diagrammatic representation of the position of thecylinder as in FIG. 21; and

FIG. 23 shows the transportable crane of FIGS. 11-22 in its position ofoperation as a rotary tower crane.

Referring to FIG. 1, the chassis l of a vehicle 2 carries on it a rotaryplatform 3 which can turn about a vertical axis 4. Supported on therotary platform 3 is a crane mast or column 6 which pivots with respectto the platform about a horizontal axis 5. The angular position of themast or column with respect to the platform 3 is adjustable to thedesired value by means of a hydraulic ram 7. The mast or column 6comprises sections 8, 9 and 10 which can be brought to the desiredextended position by means of a pressure fluid ram 11 mounted within themast or column. A main jib 13, which is pivotally connected to the head12 of the mast 6, is provided at its free end with a cable-guidingsheave 14. On the side of the mast 6 opposite the main jib 13, there ismounted a short counterjib 15 which can be brought to any desiredangular position by means of a retaining cable 16. An auxiliary bracket17 is connected to the counterjib 15 at its bearing point and pivotswith it. Load-carrying hooks l8 and 19 are secured, via sheaves 20 and21, to cables 22 and 23 which are guided through the sheaves. On therotary platform 3 there are counterweight means 24, which can be movedin and out according to the magnitude of the loads suspended on the hook18 or 19. These loads are movable by means of a cable 26 from a cabledrum or winch 25.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 4, which show the counterweight means 24 indetail, bars 30, which form a carrier for a counterweight 31, areslidable by means of a crank drive 29 engaging racks 27 and 28. Themoment arm over which the counterweight 31 acts can thereby be adjustedto match the magnitude of the load carried by the crane. Where theequipment is to be employed as a rotary tower crane, as shown in FIG. 6,the carrier 30 and the counterweight 31 are slid from the opposite sideinto guides provided for them in the rotary platform 3.

As shown in FIG. 5, the extension of the telescoping sections 33 and 34of the mast or column 35 is effected by a tension cable 32 so that theyextend to a correspondingly increasing extent with increasing extensionof the ram 36, the latter increasing the angle of elevation of the mastwith respect to the platform 37 of the vehicle 38, because the tensioncable is secured at one end to an eye 39, fixedly mounted on the rotaryplatform 40 and its other end to an eye 41 fixedly mounted on the columnsection 34.

FIG. 6 shows the use, mentioned earlier, of the inventive equipment as arotary tower crane erected on the rotary platform 41 of a vehicle 42.Again, the column comprises three sections 43, 44 and 45 which can beadjusted to any desired vertical position by means of a ram 46 and aresupported in their upright position with respect to the platform 41 bymeans of a ram 46'. Before the main jib 48 is swung up about a pivotpoint 47, said main jib 48 lies parallel to the longitudinal axis of themast or column. A cable run 49 passes from the free end 50 of the mainjib 48 to the free end 51 ofa counterjib 52 and is securely anchoredthere. From this fixed point, the cable 49 passes over an auxiliarybracket 53, having a common pivot point 54 with the counterjib 52, to aneye 55 fixedly mounted on the rotary platform 41 where it is likewisesecured.

When the sections 43 to 45 are extended, under the action of the ram 46,the jib 48 is swung to a position 48' and the counterjib moves to aposition 52'. The cable 49 then extends along dashed line 49' betweenanchorage points 50 and 55.

On further extension of the sections 43 to 45, the main jib can also bebrought to a position 48 and the cable run 49" now extends betweenanchorage points 50" and 55. The counterweight 56, on carrier 57, ismoved to the required extended position with respect to the platform 41.

Before the mast of FIG. 6, comprising the sections 43 to 45, is broughtto the vertical position shown in the drawing, it lies in the horizontalposition shown in'FIG. 7 parallel to the chassis 58 of the vehicle 59.In this position the main jib 13 still lies on the section 43 of thecolumn and the cable 49 is already connected in the manner described toits anchorage points 50, 51 and 55. On actuation of the ram 46' the mastcomprising the sections 43 to 45 is erected. Then operation of the ram46 causes the main jib 48 to swing out and up in the manner describedearlier and simultaneously extends the individual sections of the mast.

FIGS. 8 to 10 show the unfolding of the equipment from the fully mobileposition, shown in FIG. 8, to the position shown in FIG. 10. Thislast-mentioned position differs from that of FIG. 7 in that in theposition shown in FIG. 7 the cable run 49 is present and the counterjib52 is swung away from the mast. In particular, in the mobile positionshown in FIG. 8, the sections 43 to 45 are telescoped together and thecounterjib 52 is folded against the side of the mast. With thecomponents of the structure in this position, equipment can be readilymoved by means of the vehicle 42.

In FIG. 9 the two movable sections 44 and 45 have been extended from thefixed section 43 by the use of the ram 46. In this position there is alocking action between an eye 60 on the fixed section 43 and the mainjib 13, resulting in maintenance of the position of the section 45 onreturn movement of the section 44 under the action of the ram 46. Themain jib 13 thus acts as a tie rod.

On return movement of the section 44, with respect to the section 45,the position shown in FIG. 10 is reached in which the sections 44 and 45are now locked together by the use of a pin inserted at a point 61. Thelocking engagement at the eye 60 is released and the cable run 49, shownin FIG. 7, is set up, whereupon the further erection of the columncomprising the sections 43 to 45 and the raising of the main jib can beperformed as explained earlier with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

Ifit is desired that on luffing of the main jib there should not be asimultaneous change in the overall length of the mast, this result canbe achieved by appropriate securing or retention of the counterjib sothat the main jib can be luffed independently of the position, at anygiven instant, of the head of the mast. There is now explained in thefollowing, in conjunction with FIGS. 11 to 23, a further embodiment ofthe transportable crane according to the invention in which the luffingof the main jib is obtained without a change in the height of the mast.

The vehicle shown in FIGS. 11 to 14 is provided with a platform 3 towhich the guide portion 61 of the mast of the crane is pivoted at 5. Theplatform 3 is provided with a counterweight 24 so that, according to themanner of operation of the crane as a rotary tower crane or as a jibcrane, the counterweight can be mounted on the front or the rear part ofthe platform. That part of the mast which projects forward beyond thepivot point 5 of the guide portion 61 can, according to the form ofconstruction, be disposed either above the roof of the drivers cabin oralongside a drivers cabin which only takes up part of the width of thevehicle.

As shown in FIG. 12, the movable telescoping part 62 of the mast isextended about halfway by operation of the hydraulic cylinder assembly75 to 77 mounted in the lower part of the guide portion 61 underneaththe movable or extending portion 62 of the mast. During the extendingmovement, the main jib 68, which is pivoted to the head 67 of the mast,is raised and guided on the guide portion 61 by a roller 69. The roller69 can be mounted in bearings on the jib, as shown in FIG. 12,

or two or more rollers 69a can be mounted on the guide portion 61, asshown in FIG. 13.

In FIG. 13 the mast is shown partially erected by means of a multistagehydraulic ram 7. This causes the mast to pivot about the pivot point 5.-

FIG. 14 shows the mast in its fully extended position in the operatingcondition as a derricking jib crane, with a hook 71 serving to lift theload. A cable extends from the latter over a sheave 72 to the cable drumor winch 73 mounted on the platform. Together with a bracket orcounterjib 74, the sheave 72 is mounted on the head 67 of the mast onthe opposite side of it from the main jib 68.

FIGS. 15 to 22 illustrate a preferred hydraulic cylinder arrangement forextending the mast.

As can be seen in FIGS. 15 and 16, there are three hydraulic cylinders75, 76 and 77, the two cylinders 75 and 76 being arranged in paralleland actuated in common. It would also be possible toenvisage anasymmetrical construction in which, for example, the cylinder 76 isomitted and the cylinder 75 is of correspondingly increased dimensions.Their attachment points 78 and 79 lie at the lower end of the movableextending portion 62 of the mast (see also FIG. The attachment point 80of the middle hydraulic cylinder 77 is at the lower end of the fixedguide portion 61 of the mast. The three piston rods 81, 82 and 83 arepivotally connected to a common transverse bar 64 which, on extension ofthe cylinder 77, is guided over the length of the stroke of the latterin guide rails 88 (shown in FIG. 19) provided on the extending portion62. The extension of the mast occurs in the manner described in thefollowing.

Starting with the parts'in the position shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, thecylinders 75 and 76 are actuated so that the piston rods 81 and 82 areretracted. This displaces the extending portion 62 of the mast from itsposition shown in FIG. 11 to that shown in FIG. 112. At he end of thismovement the three cylinders reach the position shown in FIGS. 17 and18. Following this, or simultaneously with it, the middle cylinder 77 isactuated and causes the piston rod 83 to extend. This causes the movableportion 62 to become fully extended from the position shown in FIG. 12to that shown inFIG. 14. The final position of the three cylinders isshown in FIGS. 21 and 22.

In FIGS. 11 to 23 the telescoping mast of the crane is illustrated ascomprising an outer guide portion 61 and a single movable portion 62.The movable part can, however, comprise several portions to obtain; verygreat extension heights and these again would be capable of slidingwithin one another by means of cylinder arrangements such as thosedescribed above or similar to those described. I

FIG. 23 shows the crane of FIGS. 11 to 14 in its operative condition asa rotary tower crane. The counterweight 24 is now mounted on the rearend of the platform 3, as viewed in the direction of travel of thevehicle. The tip 84 of the main jib 68 is connected by a constant lengthtension cable 85 to the outer end of the counterjib 74. A furtherconstant length tension cable 86 extends from counterjib 74 over adirectionreversing sheave 87, mounted on the rotary platform 3, to theload hook 71, which is not being employed as a load hook in thiscondition of operation. By this arrangement the luffing of the main jib68 can be effected by causing the load hook to be raised or lowered byits associated winch or drum 73. As can be seen in broken lines, themain jib 68 becomes inclined more and more steeply the higher the loadhook is raised. In this manner, in contrast to the construction shown inFIG. It), the height of the mast remains unchanged for all positions ofthe jib. The features described above could be combined as required inorder to obtain a crane which matches the needs of the moment in theoptimum manner.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description,and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalencyof the claims are therefore to be embraced therein.

We claim:

I. A transportable multipurpose crane or derrick comprising a vehiclehaving thereon a platform which is rotatable about a vertical axis, mastmeans pivotally mounted on said platform, means for tilting said mastmeans with respect to said platform between a vertical and a horizontalposition, main jib means pivotally mounted on that side of said mastmeans which is uppermost when the mast is tilted towards a horizontalposition to be swung out therefrom in the plane of tilting of said mastmeans, sheave means mounted on said mast means on the side thereofopposite said main jib means, a load-carrying hook, cable means bearingsaid hook on a free end thereof and passing over said sheave means,winch means operatively connected to drive said cable means, said mastmeans comprising a plurality of telescopic sections, pressure fluidoperated ram means operatively connected to position said sections, andsaid main jib means being folded against said mast means during traveland in this position serving as a tie rod selectively fixed to said mastsections during the extension of said mast means.

2. A crane or derrick according to claim I further comprising counterjibmeans pivotally mounted on said mast means on the side thereof oppositethe main jib means, a cable-guiding sheave mounted on the free end ofsaid counterjib means, first constant length cable means connectedbetween the free ends of said main jib means and said counterjib means,direction reversing sheave means mounted on the platform, secondconstant length cable means connected to the free end of said counterjibmeans, about said reversing sheave means, and to said load-carryinghook.

3. A crane or derrick according to claim 1 further comprisingcounterweight means having at least one bar means slidably mounted insaid platform with counterweights fixedly mounted on the free endthereof, said bar means and counterweights being symmetrical withrespect to a line through the attachment point of said mast means tosaid platform and the center of rotation of said platform.

1. A transportable multipurpose crane or derrick comprising a vehiclehaving thereon a platform which is rotatable about a vertical axis, mastmeans pivotally mounted on said platform, means for tilting said mastmeans with respect to said platform between a vertical and a horizontalposition, main jib means pivotally mounted on that side of said mastmeans which is uppermost when the mast is tilted towards a horizontalposition to be swung out therefrom in the plane of tilting of said mastmeans, sheave means mounted on said mast means on the side thereofopposite said main jib means, a load-carrying hook, cable means bearingsaid hook on a free end thereof and passing over said sheave means,winch means operatively connected to drive said cable means, said mastmeans comprising a plurality of telescopic sections, pressure fluidoperated ram means operatively connected to position said sections, andsaid main jib means being folded against said mast means during traveland in this position serving as a tie rod selectively fixed to said mastsections during the extension of said mast means.
 2. A crane or derrickaccording to claim 1 further comprising counterjib means pivotallymounted on said mast means on the side thereof opposite the main jibmeans, a cable-guiding sheave mounted on the free end of said counterjibmeans, first constant length cable means connected between the free endsof said main jib means and said counterjib means, direction reversingsheave means mounted on the platform, second constant length cable meansconnected to the free end of said counterjib means, about said reversingsheave means, and to said load-carrying hook.
 3. A crane or derrickaccording to claim 1 further comprising counterweight means having atleast one bar means slidably mounted in said platform withcounterweights fixedly mounted on the free end thereof, said bar meansand counterweights being symmetrical with respect to a line through theattachment point of said mast means to said platform and the center ofrotation of said platform.